No-kill animal shelters operate under the premise that every pet deserves a loving home and no animal should be "put down" unnecessarily. In many areas, especially the South, that means shelter operators must turn away some animals until homes can be found for others.

A few volunteers from JP Ranch and Rescue, an Atkins-based 501(c)3 nonprofit shelter, sat down with a reporter recently to discuss the challenges and rewards of operating a no-kill shelter.

JP Ranch and Rescue operator Peggy Kirby held up a letter written by a young girl whose family recently adopted a dog from the ranch. The letter included a childs-eye narrative of why she loved her dog so much and a hand-drawn picture of the girl's family, including their dog, Morgan.

"That's why she does it," volunteer Kirstin Cogburn said of Kirby. "Morgan's got a good home and these kids have a best friend."

The challenges of such a rescue can be difficult sometimes, Kirby admitted, especially when, as now, the shelter is operating at maximum capacity. She said turning away dogs was "absolutely" the hardest part of what she does.

Lack of education regarding spaying and neutering is the biggest factor leading to the huge number of unwanted and abandoned animals the area faces, Kirby said.

The organization also acts as a sanctuary for "unadoptable" pets, Kirby said. She said because of many cities' ban on certain breeds, dogs who are part pit bull often fall into this category, even though they have no behavioral or health problems. As an example, she pointed to Mia, a pit bull mix she said is very sweet and loving. A family with young children recently came to the ranch looking for a dog to adopt. They fell in love with Mia, and Kirby said Mia was so sweet playing with the young girls. The family, however, could not adopt her because they live in Russellville, which currently bans ownership of pit bulls and pit bull mixes within city limits.

JP Ranch and Rescue volunteer coordinator Karen Bagwell said the organization has recently began implementing education programs at local schools to help children learn the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.

The most immediate need the shelter has right now is dedicated volunteers, Bagwell said, adding volunteer work not only helps the organization, but also looks good on resumes and college applications. She said volunteer duties can range from anything to walking dogs to writing thank-you letters.

Right now, JP Ranch and Rescue is in the process of garnering funding to build a new facility. In addition, Bagwell said several local business, including Petsmart, Harps, Sexton Foods, Big Start Marketplace and the Dardanelle and Morrilton Walmart locations, have been generous in offering their support to running the day-to-day operation of the rescue.

"We are so thankful for them and for the individuals within the community that have been donating," Bagwell said. "They have been helpful in helping us continue our work."

Kirby said the generosity of the community is important to their work, because adoption fees do not cover the cost of caring for a pet until it is adopted.

"It can cost $125 dollars to spay a dog, and the $75 adoption fee doesn't cover that, without even including the cost of food, vaccinations and any other vet care," she said.

Kirby said JP Ranch and Rescue has partnered with Petsmart to help adopt their pets, adding they will be doing an adoption drive at Petsmart today from 1 to 3 p.m. and a three-day adoption drive Feb. 11-13.

Although JP Ranch and Rescue is the largest area shelter, with 65 dogs currently up for adoption, there are other local shelters who are also working to providing pets with loving homes.

Kathy Jentsch has been operating Purr-fect Sanctuary, a 501(c)3 dedicated to rescuing and adopting out cats, in the area for six years. Prior to moving to Arkansas, Jentsch said she operated a rescue in Minnesota, where she said the adoption rate was higher.

"The adoption rate up there was better than down here," she said. "We're pretty much at a standstill. I think a lot of shelters are."

Jentsch said she felt the economy had a lot to do with high numbers of abandoned animals.

"People don't know what to do, so they dump them," she said, adding "domesticated animals do not do well when you dump them."

An organization called Pets are GODS Creatures Too has been operating in the Russellville area for a year and a half, and operator Cecilia Bellow said she is working on setting the organization up as a 501(c)3.

"I do what I do because I love animals and I don't like to see them abandoned, abused or left on the side of the road," Bellow said.

She echoed the other rescuers in urging people to spay and neuter their pets, and one area organization is working to make that task easier for low-income families.

Arkansas Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) is a foundation that's main purpose is to provide low-cost spay and neuter options to low-income families, AARF representative Carla Alverson said, adding applications to be considered for the program were available at local veterinarian's offices and at the Russellville's city animal shelter.

How can you help?

Local no-kill shelter operators all say they are filled to capacity with animals who were neglected, abandoned or abused. Each listed specific needs to help them continue their work.

n JP Ranch and Rescue

Contact: Peggy Kirby, 747-3612

Website: www.jpranchandrescue.org

Most immediate needs: Volunteers; donations of dog food, pens, blankets and other supplies; monetary donations to help cover the cost of veterinary care.

n Pets are GODS Creatures Too

Contact: Cecilia Bellow, 970-3447

Website: www.petsareGODScreaturestoo.org

Most immediate needs: Foster families, dog food and donations for care of the animals.